How a Soviet ‘miracle plant’ became Russia's most dangerous weed

At first glance, Sosnowsky's hogweed looks quite harmless. But, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous plants in Russia.

This species, named after a Russian botanist, was discovered in the 1940s in the Caucasus Mountains. Soviet agronomists suggested using it as a silage crop: it grew quickly and was resistant to frost. The hogweed took root easily everywhere and reproduced at an astonishing rate.

However, it turned out that the plant is extremely dangerous, due to furanocoumarins (organic compounds with high biological activity): if you touch the stem or if the sap gets on your skin, it causes severe burns. The skin becomes highly sensitive to sunlight and the wounds take a very long time to heal.

Today, hogweed is classified as a weed and an invasive species, but it has already gone wild and spread throughout many regions of the country. Efforts to control it are carried out every summer.

If you do accidentally touch the stem, try to carefully wash off the sap with soap and water and see a doctor as soon as possible. Burns covering 80% of the body can be fatal.